Erik Karlsson is hurt, and Matt Cooke, unfairly or not, is in the middle of it all.

Karlsson, one of the game's best young players and the 2012 Norris Trophy winner, left the Senators' game against the Penguins with an apparent Achilles' tendon injury. During a hit, Cooke's skate came off the ice and made contact with Karlsson's leg when they hit the boards.

Karlsson's reaction tells you about all you need to know. The Sens announced on Wednesday night that Karlsson will have surgery on the lacerated tendon and is out indefinitely.

Now, the reflexive move is to blame Cooke, who was one of the league's dirtiest players before a total 180 for the 2011-12 season. That's certainly not fair—he was off balance on the way into the boards, and even before changing his ways, a malicious Achilles' tendon slice would've suggested a sociopathic streak that he, hopefully, doesn't possess.

The other X-factor: Cooke's career was in legitimate danger because of the way he used to play, and he knew it, often speaking at length about the subject. If he were to injure Karlsson like this deliberately, it could easily be the last straw.

And before anyone accuses us of battling straw men, search "Cooke Karlsson" on Twitter, or read what Senators GM Bryan Murray said after the game, a 4-2 Penguins win: "It's Matt Cooke. What else should I say? Watch the replay."

Cooke, naturally, said it was unintentional.

The main issue, though, is Karlsson's health. Things certainly didn't look good for him on Wednesday night, though how much time he'll miss us unknown, his season is likely over. The Senators are already without leading scorer Jason Spezza, who is rehabbing after back surgery.